The Aachen sector for today. Yesterday's NYT said gains were now measured in yards. Sure sounds like World War 1, doesn't it? And many historians have referred to this campaign at the northern end of the Siegfried Line as being exactly that.
Third Army's sector in Lorraine from the German point of view. Patton has gradually expanded the salient around Nancy, but the Germans are still bitterly clinging to Metz.
Here is a close up of the German situation around Metz on a more detailed map that shows the terrain features. You can see that they have staked their position on the ridge lines west of the Moselle. They picked some very strong natural defensive positions. No surprise that Patton is having trouble battering his way into the city.
Finally, the 6th Army Group sector. Sixth AG is really just 7th Army, which is really just VI Corps. But that Corps contains three veteran divisions, the 3rd, 36th and 45th, all of which saw considerable fighting in Tunisia, Sicily and Italy. It is led by Lucian Truscott, one of the ablest commanders in the United States Army. Those divisions are slogging their way through some very tough terrain in the French Vosges mountains. And the weather has closed in for the season, too. But they will clear the Vosges and hack their way to Strasbourg. It's sad that these good soldiers, led by capable commanders, accomplishing so much against tremendous challenges, will largely be forgotten by history.
